Plants, BLU-CAL

Life on Earth owes much to plants. The vast majority of plants carry out photosynthesis to transform light energy into chemical energy, which is the way that virtually all energy in the biosphere becomes available to living things (including us humans). Plants occupy the base of Earth's food webs and are consumed directly or indirectly by all higher life-forms, thereby functioning as the major source of food for humans and other animals. Plants' photosynthetic activity also produces the air that we breathe: almost all the oxygen in the atmosphere is due to the process of photosynthesis. Still not convinced about the merits of plants? Consider the fact that many plants not only serve up crucial nutrients and breathable air but also look good doing it. Many plants are admired for their striking aesthetic qualities, and flowers such as tulips, lilies, sunflowers, and daisies beautify fields, gardens, windowsills, and bouquets the world over. Plants are also a primary source of consumer goods, such as building materials, textile fibers, and pharmaceuticals.
Back To Plants Page

Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title

blueberry
blueberry, any of several North American shrubs of the genus Vaccinium (family Ericaceae), prized for their sweet......
bluebonnet
bluebonnet, any of several North American lupines (Lupinus) of the pea family (Fabaceae). The most famous bluebonnets......
bluegrass
bluegrass, (genus Poa), in botany, the largest genus in the grass family (Poaceae), comprising more than 500 species.......
bluestem
bluestem, (genus Andropogon), genus of approximately 100 species of grasses in the family Poaceae. Bluestems are......
Bock, Hieronymus
Hieronymus Bock German priest, physician, and botanist who helped lead the transition from the philological scholasticism......
bog rosemary
bog rosemary, (Andromeda polifolia), low evergreen shrub of the heath family (Ericaceae). The plant is native to......
bok choy
bok choy, (Brassica rapa), member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae) that is a variety (chinensis) of Brassica......
Bombacaceae
Bombacaceae, the bombax or kapok family of flowering trees and shrubs, in the mallow order (Malvales), comprising......
boneset
boneset, (Eupatorium perfoliatum), North American plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). The plant is sometimes......
bonsai
bonsai, living dwarf tree or trees or the art of training and growing them in containers. Bonsai specimens are......
boojum tree
boojum tree, (Fouquieria columnaris), unusual flowering tree (family Fouquieriaceae) endemic to the deserts of......
borage
borage, (Borago officinalis), an edible and ornamental plant with loose drooping clusters of starlike bright blue......
Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae, borage or forget-me-not family of flowering plants, with 148 genera and more than 2,700 species.......
Borlaug, Norman Ernest
Norman Ernest Borlaug American agricultural scientist, plant pathologist, and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace......
Bose, Sir Jagadish Chandra
Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian plant physiologist and physicist whose invention of highly sensitive instruments......
Boston ivy
Boston ivy, (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), clinging woody vine of the grape family (Vitaceae). Native to eastern......
botany
botany, branch of biology that deals with the study of plants, including their structure, properties, and biochemical......
bottle gourd
bottle gourd, (Lagenaria siceraria), running or climbing vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to tropical......
bottle tree
bottle tree, any of various trees of the genus Brachychiton, in the hibiscus, or mallow, family (Malvaceae), with......
bougainvillea
bougainvillea, (genus Bougainvillea), genus of about 18 species of shrubs, vines, or small trees, belonging to......
bouvardia
bouvardia, (genus Bouvardia), any of about 30 species of evergreen shrubs or herbs of the family Rubiaceae, mostly......
Bowenia
Bowenia, genus of two species of palmlike cycads in the family Stangeriaceae, endemic to Queensland, Australia.......
box
box, In botany, an evergreen shrub or small tree (genus Buxus) of the box family (Buxaceae), best known for the......
box elder
box elder, (Acer negundo), hardy and fast-growing tree, of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), native to the central......
boxwood
boxwood, (family Buxaceae), any of the plants in the family Buxaceae (order Buxales), best known for the ornamental......
boysenberry
boysenberry, a very large bramble fruit, considered to be a variety of blackberry (Rubus ursinus). Possibly a cross......
bracken
bracken, (Pteridium aquilinum), widely distributed fern (family Dennstaedtiaceae), found throughout the world in......
bramble
bramble, (genus Rubus), large genus of flowering plants in the rose family (Rosaceae), consisting of usually prickly......
brassica
brassica, (genus Brassica), genus of 37 species of flowering plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), many......
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae, the mustard family of flowering plants (order Brassicales), composed of 338 genera and some 3,700......
Brassicales
Brassicales, order of flowering plants that includes cabbages and capers, as well as mignonette, mustard, and nasturtiums.......
Braun, Alexander
Alexander Braun was the chief botanist of the “nature philosophy” school, a doctrine attempting to explain natural......
bread palm
bread palm, any of about 65 species of Encephalartos, cycads (family Zamiaceae) native to Africa. The name is derived......
breadfruit
breadfruit, (Artocarpus altilis), tree of the mulberry family (Moraceae) and its large fruits that are a staple......
breadnut
breadnut, (Brosimum alicastrum), prolific tree of the family Moraceae and its edible seeds. The plant is found......
brier
brier, term generally applied to any plant with a woody and thorny or prickly stem, such as those of the genera......
Brisbane box
Brisbane box, (Tristania conferta), evergreen tree, of the family Myrtaceae, native to Australia and commonly cultivated......
bristlecone pine
bristlecone pine, (species Pinus longaeva and P. aristata), either of two species of small pine trees that belong......
broad bean
broad bean, (Vicia faba), species of legume (family Fabaceae) widely cultivated for its edible seeds. The broad......
broccoli
broccoli, form of cabbage, of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), grown for its edible flower buds and stalk. Native......
bromegrass
bromegrass, (genus Bromus), genus of approximately 160 annual and perennial grasses in the family Poaceae, found......
Bromeliaceae
Bromeliaceae, the pineapple family of the flowering plants (order Poales), with more than 3,000 species across......
Brongniart, Adolphe-Théodore
Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart was a French botanist whose classification of fossil plants, which drew surprisingly......
Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Arboretum, botanical garden founded in 1911 in Brooklyn, N.Y., municipally owned and......
broom
broom, (genus Cytisus), genus of several shrubs or small trees of the pea family (Fabaceae), native to temperate......
broom moss
broom moss, (Dicranum scoparium), the most common species of the wind-blown moss genus Dicranum. This species occurs......
broomcorn
broomcorn, (Sorghum bicolor), upright variety of sorghum of the family Poaceae, cultivated for its stiff stems.......
broomrape
broomrape, (genus Orobanche), genus of about 150 species of parasitic annual or perennial herbs (family Orobanchaceae).......
brown mustard
brown mustard, (Brassica juncea), herbaceous plant of the family Brassicaceae grown primarily for its pungent seeds,......
Brown, Robert
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist best known for his descriptions of cell nuclei and of the continuous motion......
Bruniaceae
Bruniaceae, family of shrubby evergreen plants, comprising 12 genera native to southern Africa, many resembling......
Brunonia
Brunonia, a genus in the family Goodeniaceae, containing one species (Brunonia australis) native to Australia and......
Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts, (Brassica oleracea, variety gemmifera), form of cabbage, belonging to the mustard family Brassicaceae,......
bryony
bryony, (genus Bryonia), genus of about 12 species of climbing herbaceous vines in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).......
bucket orchid
bucket orchid, (genus Coryanthes), genus of about 42 species of epiphytic orchids (family Orchidaceae), noted for......
buckeye
buckeye, any of about six species of North American trees and shrubs in the genus Aesculus of the soapberry family......
buckthorn
buckthorn, any of about 100 species of shrubs or trees belonging to the genus Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae, native......
buckwheat
buckwheat, (Fagopyrum esculentum), herbaceous plant of the family Polygonaceae and its edible seeds. Buckwheat......
buckwheat tree
buckwheat tree, (Cliftonia monophylla), evergreen shrub or small tree of the family Cyrillaceae, native to southern......
buffalo berry
buffalo berry, (Shepherdia argentea), hardy flowering shrub of the oleaster family (Elaeagnaceae), growing wild......
buffalo bur
buffalo bur, (Solanum rostratum), plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), native to high plains east of the......
buffalo grass
buffalo grass, (Bouteloua dactyloides), perennial western North American grass of the family Poaceae. Buffalo grass......
bugbane
bugbane, any of about 15 species of tall perennial herb constituting the genus Cimicifuga of the buttercup family......
bugleweed
bugleweed, (genus Ajuga), genus of about 40 species of Eurasian plants of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Bugleweeds......
bugloss
bugloss, any plant of the genera Anchusa, Echium, and Pentaglottis of the family Boraginaceae. Bugloss plants are......
Bulbophyllum
Bulbophyllum, one of the largest genera of orchids (family Orchidaceae), composed of more than 2,000 species of......
bulrush
bulrush, Any of the annual or perennial grasslike plants constituting the genus Scirpus, especially S. lacustris,......
bunchberry
bunchberry, (Cornus canadensis), creeping perennial herb of the dogwood family (Cornaceae). The small and inconspicuous......
bunya pine
bunya pine, (Araucaria bidwillii), large evergreen conifer of the family Araucariaceae, native to humid areas in......
bur cucumber
bur cucumber, (genus Sicyos), genus of about 60 species of prostrate or climbing vines in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae).......
bur oak
bur oak, (Quercus macrocarpa), North American timber tree belonging to the white oak group of the genus Quercus......
Burbank, Luther
Luther Burbank was an American plant breeder whose prodigious production of useful varieties of fruits, flowers,......
burdock
burdock, (genus Arctium), a genus of biennial plants in the Asteraceae family, bearing globular flower heads with......
burhead
burhead, (genus Echinodorus), genus of some 28 species of annual or perennial herbs of the family Alismataceae,......
burnet
burnet, (genus Sanguisorba), genus of about 35 species of perennial herbs in the rose family (Rosaceae), native......
burning bush
burning bush, any of several plants so called for their striking fall foliage, brilliant flower display, or emission......
burro-fat
burro-fat, (species Cleome isomeris), shrub or small tree of the Cleome genus (of the family Cleomaceae, which......
Burseraceae
Burseraceae, family of flowering plants in the order Sapindales, composed of about 19 genera and 775–860 species......
bush honeysuckle
bush honeysuckle, (genus Diervilla), genus of three species of low shrubs belonging to the family Caprifoliaceae......
butcher’s broom
butcher’s broom, any dark green shrub of the genus Ruscus of the family Ruscaceae, native to Eurasia. The plants......
butter-and-eggs
butter-and-eggs, (Linaria vulgaris), perennial herbaceous plant of the Plantaginaceae family, native to Eurasia.......
buttercup
buttercup, (genus Ranunculus), genus of about 300 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae.......
butterfly bush
butterfly bush, (genus Buddleja), any of more than 100 species of plants constituting the genus Buddleja (family......
butterfly orchid
butterfly orchid, common name of several orchid species, especially those of the genera Psychopsis and Platanthera.......
butterfly weed
butterfly weed, (Asclepias tuberosa), North American plant of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), a stout rough-haired......
butternut
butternut, (Juglans cinerea), deciduous nut-producing tree of the walnut family (Juglandaceae), native to eastern......
buttonbush
buttonbush, (genus Cephalanthus), genus of at least six species of shrubs or small trees of the madder family (Rubiaceae)......
Buxales
Buxales, the boxwood order of dicotyledonous flowering plants, comprising Buxaceae (90–120 species in five genera)......
cabbage
cabbage, (Brassica oleracea), vegetable and fodder plant of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), the various agricultural......
cacao
cacao, (Theobroma cacao), tropical evergreen tree (family Malvaceae) grown for its edible seeds, whose scientific......
cactus
cactus, (family Cactaceae), flowering plant family (order Caryophyllales) with nearly 2,000 species and 139 genera.......
calabash tree
calabash tree, (Crescentia cujete), tree of the family Bignoniaceae that grows in parts of Africa, Central and......
calabazilla
calabazilla, (Cucurbita foetidissima), perennial prostrate vine of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to......
caladium
caladium, (genus Caladium), genus of about 14 species of tuberous herbaceous plants in the arum family (Araceae)......
Calamites
Calamites, genus of tree-sized, spore-bearing plants that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods (about......
Calanthe
Calanthe, genus of about 200 species of terrestrial orchids (family Orchidaceae). The plants are mostly native......
calendula
calendula, (genus Calendula), small genus of 15–20 species of herbaceous plants (family Asteraceae) found in temperate......
California laurel
California laurel, (Umbellularia californica), aromatic evergreen tree of the laurel family (Lauraceae). It occurs......
California nutmeg
California nutmeg, (Torreya californica), ornamental evergreen conifer of the yew family (Taxaceae), found naturally......

Plants Encyclopedia Articles By Title